Pastor Charges 2 million Cedis For "Anointing Oil"

A 24-year-old trainee pastor, Mr. Francis Akumfi Ameyaw has exposed his senior pastor, Rev. Emmanuel Oduro of Adom Emanuel Power Chapel at Adenta for allegedly defrauding some members of the church of large sums of money.

The trainee pastor alleged that Pastor Oduro used to send him to buy anointing oil at the Madina market for ?15,000 a bottle and sold it to members at prices between ?500,000 and ?2million, depending on the member?s financial status in the church. He said pastor Oduro sold the anointing oil to the members after taking them to the Teshie-Nungua beach at midnight where special prayers were offered to them.

Pastor Oduro, he said convinced his victims that the anointing oil came from holy sites in Israel and that, its healing powers were inspired by God. However, he admitted that even though he did not like the fraud being perpetrated by Pastor Oduro, he benefited from it and that it was only three months ago when he was cheated that he decided to spill the beans. He mentioned two members of the church who had been defrauded as Mr. Stephen Mensah, an exporter and importer and his wife.

When the two were traced to their home in Adenta last Monday, Mr. Mensah was said to have travelled on a business trip abroad whilst his wife was said to have been on admission at a hospital. For exposing Pastor Oduro Ameyaw said he was threatened with death. He said he was asked by Pastor Oduro to leave Adenta and its surroundings areas else he would crush him with his car. He said for fear of death he moved from Pastor Oduro?s house and went to stay at Ashalley Botwe near Adenta but he knew no peace.

Pastor Oduro traced me to the area, threatened me with death and later caused my arrest. Mr. Ameyaw Ekumfi said. He said the Madina police detained him for one day without any charge and was later released. When the Adom Power Chapel at Adenta on the Dodowa road last week Tuesday, pastor Oduro denied all the allegations and asked three of the elders to speak on his behalf. When contacted, Messrs Peter Bedzra, John Nelson and John Ekow Acquah, all elders of the church denied the allegation.

They said they saw nothing wrong with Pastor Oduro buying anointing oil for ?1,000 and selling it to members between ?500,000 and ?2million.